Rocker arm assembly and components therefor

Abstract

A method of precision manufacture of an outer arm of a rocker arm assembly is performed by determining structures of a rough outer arm that would require precision processing and locations to support the structures as they are processed. Starting with at least one structure requiring precision processing, locations on the outer arm close to the structure to hold the outer arm during processing are determined that would cause minimal distortion of the outer arm during processing. The outer arm is then provided with clamping lobes at these locations. The clamping lobes of the outer arm are clamping into a fixture for manufacturing. The slider pad may now be precision ground while the outer arm is clamped in the fixture with minimal risk of distortion of the outer arm.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An outer arm for a switching rocker assembly, the outer arm comprising:
 a first target structure comprising a first side arm with a first slider pad; and   a second target structure comprising a second side arm with a second slider pad; and   a clamping lobe immediately adjacent each of the first and second target structures, the clamping lobes adapted to be clamped by a fixture to enable the first and second target structures to maintain, during precision grinding, a position relative to one another substantially equal to the position the first and second target structures maintain in the final assembled state.   
     
     
         2 . The outer arm of  claim 1  wherein the first and second slider pads have an upper sliding surface. 
     
     
         3 . The outer arm of  claim 1  wherein the clamping lobe is located immediately below the first and second slider pads. 
     
     
         4 . The outer arm of  claim 1  wherein each of the first and second slider pads comprises: an upper surface that is intended to be processed; and wherein the clamping lobe is positioned immediately under each slider pad to absorb forces of processing thereby reducing distortion of the outer arm below the clamping lobe of each of the first and second slider pads. 
     
     
         5 . The outer arm of  claim 1  wherein each of the first and second slider pads comprises: a generally curved shape, and the clamping lobe of each of the first and second slider pads is positioned underneath an approximate center of the curved shape. 
     
     
         6 . The outer arm of  claim 1  wherein each of the first and second slider pads comprises: an upper surface that is intended to be precision ground; and the clamping lobe is positioned immediately below each slider pad to absorb forces of grinding thereby reducing distortion of the outer arm below the clamping lobe. 
     
     
         7 . The outer arm of  claim 1  wherein a clamping lobe increases strength of each of the first and second side arms as compared with the side arms without the clamping lobes. 
     
     
         8 . The outer arm of  claim 1  wherein the first and second slider pads are precision ground to be substantially parallel when mounted in a fixture that models relative positions of the first and second slider pads in an assembled state.